Rail fastener



Mar cl: 14, 1939. w c woo I 2,150,259

RAIL FASTENER Filed April 27, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 U A l R I INVENTO Win/E3555 L, 71/

M I BY March 14, 1939. w. c. WOODINGS 2,150,259

RAIL FASTENER 'Filed April 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 9. 4 J1 I 11 WITNESSES INVOR flfl/fwam; W' MM ATTORNEYS.

. Patented Mar. 13!, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 vlaims. (or. 23466) This invention relates to fasteners for securing railroad rails in place on supporting cross ties.

- It is among the objects of this invention to provide a rail fastener which is made in one piece. is inexpensive, durable, readily applied, is usable with an ordinary tie-plate, locked against loosen-'- ing, adjustable for different pressures and for tieplates and rail base flanges of different thicknesses, is provided with means for preventing w over-driving, and which resiliently holds down the rail and also serves as a creep check. In accordance with this invention a railroad rail is held in place by a fastener that has a vertical shank extending down through a tie-plate 15 hole and into a cross tie.

I shank is provided with a laterally projecting head for'bearing against the top of a-rail base flange. The shank is formed from at least two substantially upright metal bars which are laterally oflset relative to each other and at least one of which has at one edge a surface adapted to engage the bottom of the tie-plate adjoining the shank-receiving hole. The normal width of the shank,

taken on a linebetween said bars on a level with the tie-plate engaging surface, is greater than the width of the tie-plate hole. To permit the shank to be inserted in the tie-plate hole,-the

bars are adapted to be canted sideways in opposite directions in order to reduce the width of the shank. The bars are preferably biased apart so as'to tightly grip the tie-plate and the tie when driven into the openings therein.

The invention is-illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a fragmentary ver- 15 tical section through a rail base, cross tie, andv tie-plate, showing one form of my invention in elevation; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 11-11 of- Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 are views, similar to the preceding flgures ,-of a modified ern- 'bodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 is a side view of another modification; Figs. 6 and? are'views, similar to Figs. 1 and 2, of the fastener of Fig. 5 in operative position; Figs. 8 and 9 are similar views of a further modification of this invention; and Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are views, similar to Figs. 5, 6 and 7,- of still another modifled embodiment. Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, atlas-plate l is mountedon top of a wooden cross tie 2, and may be provided transversely of its upper surface 50 with a rib 3 forming an integral shoulder that defines one side of a rail seat and prevents lateral movement in that direction of the rail flanges l mounted on the seat. The tie-plate is provided with the usual square spike holes 6 at the edgeo! the rail base.

The upper end of the 'Width of the hole.

the tie-plate, bar I? springs sideways away from In order to hold the rail down on its seat in accordance with this invention a rail fastener. preferably made in one piece from a metal bar v bent to-shape, is-disposed in a tie-plate hole 6 with its shank 1 extending downwardly into the I cross tie. The shank is driven into position in the tie which has a preformed oversized spikereceiving hole 9 therein for that purpose. The upper end of the shank terminates in an integral extension .in the form of a laterally projecting flattened loop H the inner end of which is preferably curved downwardly to form a bearing surface for engaging the top of the adjacent rail base flange l.

The metal bar from which the fastener is made 16 is most suitably resilient, whereby when the fastener is driven into the tie its rail-engaging surface is distorted "pwardly from its broken-line position shown in Fig. l and therebybiases the rail downwardly against its seat at all times. 20 The resiliency of the fastener also permits the usual slight rise and fall of the rail without raising the fastener as a whole and thereby loosen-v ing it in the cross tiel Loop ll increasesth'e re-" siliency of the fastener as a whole and distributes I the distortion of the bar over a greater areaso that there is little likelihood of the fastener break It is a feature of this invention that the fastener shank is in the form of two substantially upright metal bars I2 and i3 one of which is provided in one edge with a notch It, as shown in Fig. 2, the lower surface of which is adapted to engage the bottom of the tie-plate adjoining spike. hole -6 when loop ll engages the rail base and exerts enough pressure on it to be distorted upwardly thereby. Thenotchextends upwardly along bar.

I! far enough to permit the notch to straddle the tie-plate. The two bars are normally offset laterally in opposite directions relative to each other to such'an extentthat the width ofthe shank taken on a line between the bars on a level with the lower surface of the'notch is greater than the Each bar is narrower than the tie-plate hole so that when the two bars are canted toward each other in opposite directions they can be inserted in that hole. When the shank is driven into thehole far enough to bring the lower surface of notch l4 below thebottom of r bar II whereby the lower surface of the notch engages the bottom of the tie-plate adjoining the shank-receiving hole and prevents 'thefastener from working out of place. The upper surface of the notch prevents the fastener from being overdriven.

The lower ends of the two bars may be substantially in contact with each other at all times,

but their body portions are spaced apart and must be sprung toward each other in being driven into the spike hole. This causes the shank to have a still tighter fit in the tie-plate and cross tie.

This fastener is not only locked in place, but also exerts aconstantly uniform pressure against the rail base flange. As a result, the fastener serves as an effective and dependable creep check that functions continuously. It is made in one piece in an inexpensive manner, and is readily applied to ordinary tie-plates.

In the modification shown in Figs. .3 and 4, the

shank is much longerthan the one of Fig. l, butthe principal difference lies in the fact that both of the shank bars are provided with notches 2i and 22. The fastener'has been driven down far enough to cause notch 2| to grip the tie-plate, but notch 22 is shown in a functionless position. However, if it is desired that the fastener head exert more pressure on the rail base flange, the

, outer'bar 23 is driven down farther until notch 22 engages the tie-plate too. A similar fastener in such a position is shown in Figs. 6 and '7 when both notches grip the tie-plate and lock the fastener under heavy pressure. Fig. 5 discloses the positions of the two notches 26 and 21 before the fastener is driven into position. Figs. 5 and 6 also show the lower end of one bar projecting under the lower end of the other bar to facilitate driving of the fastener.

In the modified embodiments of this invention shown in Figs. 8 to 12 the shank bars are interally connected at their lower ends instead of at their upper ends. Nevertheless, the fasteners are locked in place in the same manner as those previously described herein. Fig. 8 shows a fastener having a reinforced rail-engaging head 3| formed from the laterally curved and superimposed upper portions of the shank bars.

In Fig. 10 the upper portion of each resilient shank bar is curved laterally, but only arm 32 is adapted to engage the rail base flange. The upper portion 33 of the outer bar is curved more sharply and its end only is'adapted to bear against the top of arm 32. When this fastener is driven into operative position, as shown in Fig. 11, the end of upper arm 33 presses down tightly on arm 32 and aids it in holding the rail on its seat and preventing it from creeping. 3

According to the provisions of the patent statlites, I- have explained the principle and construction of my invention, and have illustrated and described what I now consider to be its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within thescope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and'described.

I claim:

1. A rail fastener comprisinga shank adapted to be inserted in a tie-plate hole, and a laterally canted edgewise in opposite directions longitudi nally of the rail to reduce said normal width of the shank in order to permit the shank. to be inserted in the tie-plate hole.

2. A rail fastener comprising a shank'adapted to be inserted in a tie-plate hole, said shank'being in the form of two substantially vertical metal bars terminating at their upperends in laterally projecting portions forming a head adapted to bear against the top of a rail base flange, at least one of said bars having 'at'one edge a surface adapted to engage the bottom of the tie-plate adjoining the shank-receiving hole, the normal width of the shank taken on. a line between said bars on a level with said surface being greater than said hole, and said bars being adapted to be canted edgewise in opposite directions longitudi: nally of the rail to reduce said normal width of the shank in order to permit theshank to hemsertedin the tie-plate hole.

3. A rail fastener comprising a shank adapted to be inserted in a tie-plate hole, said shank being in the form of two substantially vertical metal bars terminating at their upper. ends in a laterally projecting loop the outer end of which is adapted to bear against the top of a rail base flange, at least one of said bars having at one edge a surface adapted to engage the bottom of the tie-plate adjoining the shank-receiving hole, the normal width of the shank taken on a line between said bars on a level with said surface being greater thansaid hole, and said bars being adapted to be canted edgewise in opposite directions longitudinally of the rail to reduce said normal width of the shank in order topermit the shank to be inserted in the tie-plate hole.

4. A rail fastener comprising a shank adapted to be inserted in a tie-plate hole, and a laterally projecting head adapted to bear against the top of a rail base flange, said shank being in the form of two substantially vertical metal bars, each having at one edge asurface adapted to engage rail to reduce said normal width of the shank in order to permit the shank to be inserted in the tie-plate hole. I

5. A rail fastener comprising a. shank adapted to be inserted in a tie-plate hole, and a laterally projecting head adapted to bear against the top of a rail base flange, said shank being in the form of two substantially yertical metal bars, at least one of which has at one edge a notch the lower surface of which is adapted to engage the bottom of the tie-plate adjoining the shank-receiving hole, the normal Width of the shank-taken on a line between said bars on a level with said; surface being greater than said hole, and said bars being adapted to be canted edgewise in opposite direc-' tions longitudinally of the rail to reduce said normal Width of the shankin order to permit the shank to be inserted in the tie-plate hole.

6. A rail fastener comprising a shank adapted to be inserted in a: tie-,plate hole, said shank being in the'form of two substantially vertical resilient 'metal' bars terminating at. their upper" tie-plate adjacent the shank-receiving hole, the normal width of the shank taken on a' line between said bars on a level with said surface being greater than said hole, and said bars being adapted to be canted edgewise in opposite directions longitudinally of the rail to reduce said normal width of the shank in order to permit the shank to be inserted in the tie-plate hole.

7. A rail fastener comprising a shank adapted to be inserted in a tie-plate hole, said shank being in the form of two substantially vertical resilient metal bars terminating at their upper.

ends in a laterally projecting flattened loop the outer end of which is adapted to bear against the width of the shank in order to permit the shank to be inserted in the tie-plate hole.

8. A rail fastener comprising a. shank adapted to be inserted in a tie-plate hole, and a laterally projecting head adapted to bear-against the top .of a rail base flange, said shank beingin the form of two substantially vertical metal bars each having at one edge a notch the lower surface of which is adapted to engage the bottom of the tie-plate adjacent the shank-receiving hole, said notches being on opposite sides of the shank, the normal width of the'shank taken on a line between said bars on a level with one of said surfaces being greater than said hole, and said bars being adapted to be, canted edgewise in opposite directions longitudinally of the rail to 'reduce said normal width of the shank in order to permit the shank to be inserted in the tie-plate hole.

9. A rail fastener comprising a shank'adapted to be inserted in a; tie-plate hole, and a laterally projecting head adapted to bear against the top of a rail base flange, said shank being in the form of two substantially vertical metal bars, eachhaving at dne edge a surface adapted to engage the bottom of the tie-plate adjoining the shankreceiving hole, said surfaces being on opposite sides of the shank and at different levels, the normal width of the shank taken on a line between' said bars on a level with one of said :sur-

hole.

10. A rail fastener comprising a shank adapted to be inserted in a tie-plate hole, and a laterally projecting head adapted to bear against the top of a rail base flange, said shank being in the form of two substantiallyvertical metal bars, each having at one edge a surface adapted to engage the bottom of the tie-plate adjoining the shankreceiving hole, said surfaces being on opposite sides of the shank with the innermost surface lower than the outermost, the normal widthof the shank taken on a line between said bars on a level with one of said surfaces being greater than said hole, and said bars being adapted to be canted edgewise in opposite directions longitudinally of the rail to reducesaid normal width of the shank'in order to permit the shank to be inserted in the tie-plate hole.

11. A rail fastener comprising a shankadapted to be inserted in a tie-plate hole, and a laterally projecting head adapted to bear against the top of 'a rail base flange, said shank being in the form of at least two substantially upright metal bars at least one of which has at, oneedgea surface adapted to engage the bottom of the tie-plate adjoining the shank-receiving hole, the normal width of the shank taken on a line between said bars on a level with said surface being greater than said hole, the bars being biased apart to make the shank thicker than the width of said hole, and said bars being adapted to be canted edgewise in opposite directions longitudinally of the rail and sprung toward each other to reduce the normal width and thickness of the shank in order to permit the shank to be inserted in the i tie-plate hole.

1 2. A rail fastener comprising a shank adapted to be inserted in a tie-plate hole, said shank being in the form of two substantially upright resilient metal bars connected together at their lower ends with their upper end portions curved laterally to form a head adapted to bear against the top of a rail base flange, the end of the upper end portion of the outer bar being. adapted to bear against the upper curved portion oftheinner bar and bias it downwardly, at least one of said bars having at one edge a 'surfaceadapted to engage the bottom of the tie-plate adjoining the shankreceiving hole, the 'normal width" of the shank taken on a line between said bars on a level with said surface being greater than said hole, and

said bars being adapted to be cantededsewise .in opposite, directions longitudinally of the rail to reduce said normal width of the shank in order to permit the shank to be in the tie-plate ciwoonm'as. 

